Thursday, August 10, 2006

Site Meter

About a month into this experience with a blog (which is very addictive when you have something to write about), I installed an internet counter onto the page to keep track of how amny people have looked at the page, where they come from and how long they stay. I admit that it is a heavy dose of internet Big Brother to add this and I would otherwise avoid tracking people, but it has been an eye opening thing for me.

For example, since I added the counter there have been more than 8,200 visits to Ellie Brogan, averaging 128 visits per day. Now my mom and my sisters visit a lot and assorted relatives also, but that leaves a whole lot of people out there that are looking that I can't account for. In places like Iowa, Nevada and Pennsylvania, only one of which i have ever set foot in, there are people looking at my baby and reading about her adventures.

Sort of strange. Sometimes I feel like my fly is open for the world to see. Other times I hope that a crazy person out there doesn't come looking for us. I usually think about that at two AM in the hospital, though when I can't sleep. It really wouldn't be that hard to find us.

Stranger still is the fact that I may have actually helped some people whose kids have similar conditions to Ellie's. These folks are now asking or demanding of their doctors the same treatment Ellie is getting in their hospitals. I learned today that two families in Canada will be on Omegaven soon that learned about it through this blog. Ellie's Omegaven doctor stopped in today to thank us for the blog and told us that we are helping kids all over.

I honestly never thought that this would be anything more than a diary and maybe a way to send photos without having to send huge emails.

Saving babies is a long way from a personal diary.

Heavy to think about.

4 comments:

kate said...

Ellie fans all over the country. That's pretty great.

If anyone wants one of the snazzy hot pink "TEAM ELLIE" bracelets, we still have a few left. Post a comment or e-mail me at kbbrogan@hotmail.com. You can see Abby's bracelet in the video and pictures from last Friday - they're quite fashionable. And Grandpa Jack can attest that real men do, indeed, wear hot pink. At least on their wrists.

Adam Hurtubise said...

Rock on, Brogans. I'm tuning in every day.

Adam

Barbara Krause said...

I'm the long-time family friend who babysat the Gibber and his siblings. When I could not comfort him, big sister Beth came to the rescue. Ellie's situation is so difficult - but I have to smile anytime Gib weighs in about his baby crying til she gets some lovin'.

The Brogans (blood and by marriage) all rock. The love on this site is absolutely inspiring.

Love and hugs,
Barbara

Anonymous said...

Hi Brogans,

I'm Angi from Ohio. My son, Daniel, was born with Short Gut. He was on TPN for about 6 months but we were able to wean him off and onto full feeds. He spent about 1 1/2 years in the hospital on and off and in January 2007 had the STEP done on his small intestine. He is still on 100% tube feeds but we were able to have the CV line removed. I found your blog when searching the net about Short Gut and keep up with what is happening with your family. If you would ever like to talk, feel free to e-mail me at mommytoabi@hotmail.com. I wish you and your family the best.